Benjamin Moore

Shale

861 / TH-270

Shale is a warm-leaning gray with taupe undertones that keep it from reading as purely cool on the wall. At an LRV of 50.47, it sits near the midpoint of the reflectance range, balancing light absorption and reflection fairly evenly. In warmer lighting conditions, the taupe quality becomes more visible, while cooler light pulls it closer to a true gray.

Balboa Mist and Edgecomb Gray are close tonal companions that maintain the warm neutral direction. Revere Pewter extends the palette without shifting temperature, while Kendall Charcoal and Hale Navy provide strong contrast for accents and cabinetry.

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Brand

Benjamin Moore

Code

861 / TH-270

Collection

Benjamin Moore Classics

Shale in Different Light

Light temperature is measured in Kelvin: a warm 2700K bulb pulls colors toward yellow, while 5000K daylight reads cooler and truer. Check the color at the time of day you actually use the room.

Artificial Lighting

Bedroom scene to simulate Benjamin Moore Shale under artificial light

Light Temperature: 2700K

Natural Lighting

Living room scene to simulate Benjamin Moore Shale under natural light

Light Temperature: 4500K

Technical Specifications

Undertones

Type

Orange

Strength

Low

Temperature

warm

Hue Angle

40°

Orange Family

Lightness

73%

Light

Saturation

13%

Very Muted

LRV

50.5

0%100%

Very Dark

Dark

Medium

Light

Very Light

White

LRV measures how much light a color reflects, from 0 (black) to 100 (pure white). Below about 50 a color needs good lighting to avoid going flat, 60 and up helps brighten a room, and most whites sit above 80.

Color Position

Saturation →

Lightness →

Color Codes

HEX

#C3BDB1

RGB Decimal

195, 189, 177

RGB Percent

76.5%, 74.1%, 69.4%

HSL

40.0, 13.0%, 72.9%

HSV

40.0, 9.2%, 76.5%

CMYK

0.0%, 3.1%, 9.2%, 23.5%

YIQ

189.4, 7.4, -2.5

XYZ

48.64, 51.17, 48.91

CIE Lab

76.78, 0.01, 6.80

CIE Luv

76.78, 4.20, 9.92

Hunter Lab

71.53, 0.01, 6.12

Decimal

12828081

Coordinating Colors and Color Palettes

Darker Shades

Monochromatic dark

Shale Sharkskin Gray Silt Mossy Aura

Lighter Shades

Monochromatic light

Shale Drift of Mist Summer Gray Cameo White

Complementary

Opposite on color wheel

Shale Lavender Blue Smokey Lilac Vaguely Violet

Analogous

Adjacent colors

Shale Side Kick Oyster Bay Garden Flower

Closest Paint Matches

Cross-brand matches are close, never exact. Each brand uses different bases and sheens, so sample before you buy gallons.

Benjamin Moore

Shale

Behr

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Winterwood

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Valspar

Ask Me Anything

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Biking Trail

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Purbeck Stone

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Fortress Stone

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Skyline Steel

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Mother Nature

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Elephant's Breath

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Greenwich Gate

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Tyler Gray

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Pumice

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Horizon Gray

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Hikers Paradise

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